Apparatus for making variegated ice creams and the like



Feb. 23, 1954 I. PEYTN 2,669,946

APPARATUS FOR MAKING VARIEGATED ICE CREAMS AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 20, 1951 INVENTOR Nopmazzlfigyion BY I gr 6 AT ORNEY Patented Feb. 23, 1954 APPARATUS FOR MAKING VARIEGATED ICE CREAMS AND THE LIKE Norman I. Peyton, Baltimore, Md, assignor to Joe Lowe Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application February 20, 1951, Serial No. 211,883

4 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to ap- 'paratus for making a, frozen edible product, such as a variegated ice cream and the like substances, and it has particular relation to a nonmechanical variegator, such as a nozzle, having no moving parts, whereby the cores of contrasting flavoring material in a basic substance are broken up and dispersed within said substance in passing through said nozzle.

Heretofore, there have been two kinds'of variegating apparatus, the non-mechanical having no moving or driven parts, and the mechanical having power'driven parts. With the non-mechanical types of variegators, a base of semi-frozen ice cream or like substances has been fed under pressure to a chamber, whereupon a continuous charge of a contrasting flavoring syrup, such as chocolate, was introduced therein, and the composite mass was thereupon extruded with the flavoring material extending through the basic substance in the form of a core or plurality of cores. The extruded plastic mass, in such an operation, was discharged into a rotating container to break up the flavoring cores and disperse them in disconnected portions throughout the basic material. If no rotating receiving container mechanism was available, the composite mass was dumped back and forth from one container to another to cause a breaking up of the continuity of the flavoring cores. With the socalled mechanical variegators, the flavoring syrup was passed through a rotary disk valve, which was motor driven, and the flavoring cores were broken up and dispersed in the basic substance or the flavoring material was introduced into a moving stream of basic substance in a series of short successive shots or charges.

With the present invention, the desired result, which is a distinctive and pleasing pattern of contrasting flavoring material in disconnected portions dispersed through the basic substance, "may be obtained in a very simple, eflicient and economical manner with a simple nozzle having no moving parts, and with a minimum of handling of the delicate over-run basic substance.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved non-mechanical variegator which i devoid of moving parts, and yet is capable of discharging the composite mass with the flavoring material nicely and evenly distributed through the basic substance in an attractive pattern.

' Another object of the inventionfis the provi- -sion of a new,- simple and inexpensive nozzle having a construction permitting ready separa- 2 tion for cleaning purposes, and which will insure the distribution of the flavoring material into the basic substance without requiring further processing upon its discharge from said nozzle.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus for controlling the flow of contrasting flavoring material in the basic substance while achieving the aforesaid results in an eificient, economical, sanitary and highly expeditious manner.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an eificient and highly sanitary method of dispersing a contrasting flavoring substance into and throughout a basic substance to provide an attractive pattern enhancing the appearance, eating qualities and eye appeal of the composite product.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention reside .in the detailed description of the apparatus, which result in simplicity, economy and .efliciency, and which will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals indicate like parts, in which:

Figure 1 is an assembled longitudinalsectional view of an apparatus constructed in accordance with the principles of my invention;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view, on a larger scale, of the apparatus shown in Figure l, the same having been taken substantially along the lines 22 thereof, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the stationary pattern-making or dispersing disks shown in Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown an apparatus in the form of a nozzle [0, which consists of a lower extrusion chamber H, having a laterally extending inlet 12 through which a basic substance may be introduced under pressure from an outside source of supply, such as, for example, a continuous freezer or other pressure supplying .rnechanism (not shown). The inlet 2 has a series of external threads [3 for being removably connected to a source of supply by means of a sanitary coupling (not shown).

The upper extrusion chamber 14 is mounted removably and in axial alignment above the lower or main extrusion chamber H, and has an inlet it which is adapted to receive from an outside source of supply under a corresponding pressure a contrasting flavoring material, such as, for example, a plastic chocolate, fruit puree, etc. The inlet it also has a series of external threads ll for being removably connected with a source of supply of the contrasting flavoring material by means of a sanitary coupling (not shown).

The lower chamber H and upper chamber Hi are removably connected axially together by means of a sanitary coupling H5. The upper chamber M has a baffle plate 20 fixedly welded across its lower opening, as indicated at 2|, so as to provide a division or separation plate between the lower chamber l l and the upper chamber I l. The baflie plate Ed has a plurality of spaced apertures 22 extending therethrough, and each aperture has an elongated delivery tube 23 mounted therein and depending from the underside thereof downwardly below the inlet and into the discharge portion of the lower chamber ii. The delivery tubes 23, each of which is of a relatively small cross-sectional area, are adapted to convey the contrasting flavoring material received under pressure through their respective apertures 22 and discharge the same into the continuously moving stream of basic substance, such as soft ice cream and the like, passing through the lower chamber i l, which has a rela tively large cross-sectional area as compared to the cross-sectional area of said tubes 23. The lower chamber H extends a substantial distance below the ends of the delivery tubes 23, for reasons to be hereinafter explained, and has an external collar or union ferrule 2 welded to its lower end, which is provided with a radial upper shoulder 28 and a beveled under shoulder 2'1.

A tubular extension 3| is adapted to be mounted axially below the lower end of the lower chamber II, and has an external collar or union ier- 1 rule 32 welded or sweated over its upper end, which is provided with a beveled upper shoulder portion 33 and external threads 3 A sanitary coupling member 3% is adapted to connect removably the lower end of the lower chamber i i and the upper end of the extension tube 3| in a conventional manner. However, before these two members are connected axially in operating arrangement, a stationary pattern-making or dispersing disk 37 is adapted to be mounted therebetween, as best shown in Figure l. The lower or discharge end of the tubular extension 3! is provided with a union ferrule 2511, which provides means for securing a second tubular extension thereto.

The stationary pattern-making or dispersing disk 31 consists of an annular ring, as best shown in Figure 3, having a straight edge portion 38 and a beveled inwardly and downwardly projecting edge portion 39. The diameter of the straight edge portion 38 is such as to permit the disk 3'! to fit snugly within the extension tube 3! with its beveled portion, providing a reduced or constricted opening, resting on the correspondingly beveled shoulder 33 of the union ferrule 32. The dispersing disk 3? has a plurality of spaced arms 4| which, in the modification illustrated, are shown extending radially at angles of ninety degrees in a horizontal plane across the opening therethrough.

A second tubular extension t2, has a union ferrule 32a, which makes it adaptable for mounting axially below the lower end of the first tubular extension 3! in the same manner in which the extension 3| is connected with the discharge end of the lower chamber H. A second dispersing disk 3111, which is constructed identically with the disk 31, is positioned therebetween with its crossarms lia projecting along different vertical planes from the cross-arms ll of the first disk 31.

The second tubular extension 42 is likewise provided at its lower or discharge end with a union ferrule 2427, which provides means for a further extension being added thereto.

A third tubular extension 55, has a union ferrule 321), which makes it adaptable for mounting axially below the lower end of the second tubular extension 42 in the same manner in which the extension 3| is connected with the discharge outlet of the lower chamber I I. A third dispersing disk 3Tb positioned therein, with its cross-arms Mb projecting in difierent vertical planes from the cross-arms 4! and Ma of the first two dispersing disks 3? and 3M, is adapted to be mounted therebetween.

In the operation of the apparatus, it will be assumed that the basic substance, such as soft plastic semi-frozen ice cream, is being forced under pressure into the inlet port i2, filling the lower chamber ii and passing around the delivery tubes 23 projecting therein, and that a contrasting flavoring material, such as a chocolate syrup or a fruit puree, is being similarly forced under a substantially corresponding pressure into the inlet port It of the upper chamber I4, filling the same and passing through the apertures 22 in the baffle plate 2e and down into and through the depending delivery tubes 23 projecting downwardly into the lower chamber ii and into the moving stream of basic substance in the form of a plurality of spaced longitudinal cores.

It has been discovered that, if the lower extrusion chamber ii is provided with a substantial outlet portion, extending a considerable distance beyond the ends of the delivery tubes 23, the composite mass or stream of moving material, viz: the cylindrical mass of basic substance with its plurality of spaced cores of flavoring material therein, will rotate or spiral counterclockwise as it is being extruded downwardly through the chamber H. By inserting a stationary pattern-making or dispersing disk having a restricted passageway and a series of radial arms in the path of said spirally composite mass, thereby partially obstructing its flow, the same will be momentarily compacted and the radial arms will cause a turbulence to be set up therein whereby the flavoring cores will become broken up and portions of flavoring material will be scattered throughout the basic substance as it passes beyond said arms and the compactingpressure is released. If a single pattern-making or dispersing disk is insufiicient to provide an attractive pattern for the contrasting flavoring material in the basic substance, a second tubular extension 42 may be mounted below the first stationary pattern-making disk 31, which is of a length sumcient to permit the composite mass after passing through the first dispersing disk 31 to reform and respiral in its movement down the nozzle 10.

As soon as the composite moving stream of material has reformed and is again spiralling down the nozzle, a second stationary patternmaking or dispersing disk may be mounted in the tubular extension of the discharging nozzle, with its radial arms extending in a different position. The second disk serves to further break up the contrasting flavoring material and enhance the pattern. Even then the distribution may not be satisfactory, and, in such event,'further breaking up of the moving stream of material may be desired. The nozzle may further be extended a distance sufiicient for the mov ing mass to again reform and move in a spiral formation, whereupon a third stationary pattern-making or dispersing disk may be mounted in the line with its arms extendingstill in a different position from either of the first two mentioned pattern-making disks. The discharge end of the nozzle, however, must be extended for a substantial distance beyond the last disk in order to permit the flowing stream of material to overcome the turbulence set up by the last disk before it is ready to be discharged from the nozzle into a container or package for distribution to the trade. Obviously, the number of dispersing disks may be extended beyond three if it is found necessary under certain operating conditions.

It is impossible and in fact impractical to set up any satisfactory table for use as a guide in constructing my apparatus because of the large number of variable factors involved in an operation of this kind. It has been found that the size of the tubing forming the nozzle, the amount of pressure, the nature of the ingredients, temperature, amount of over-run in the substances, humidity and atmospheric conditions all serve to vary the situation. However, I have found that by using two continuous ice cream freezers, one for the contrasting flavoring and the other for the ice cream or basic substance, under corresponding pressures, producing at a speed of 180 gallons per hour for the finished product, using 150 gallons of basic substance to 30 gallons of flavoring material, which is a ratio of 5 to 1, an excellent pattern can be obtained with three dispersing disks mounted in spaced relation in a tubular nozzle formed from 1 /2 inch stainless steel tubing. The arms of the dispersing disks have a total area equal to approximately onethird of the total cross-sectional area of the passageway therethrough, and have been positioned at thirty, sixty and ninety degrees so as to be arranged in difierent vertical planes. In this operation, it was found that the spacing between dispersing disks should be at least six inches to permit reforming and respiralling of the moving stream. Tests made with larger and smaller tubular sections indicated some variations are required. The larger the cross-section of the tubular nozzle, the longer is the length of tubing required to reform and respiral the moving stream. However, it is believed that any skilled person with the information given will be able to construct the nozzle in a variety of sizes capable of giving a commercially good pattern in the finished product. It is realized that the expression commercially good pattern is indefinite, but manufacturers differ in their likes in connection with the pattern. However, it is believed a good pattern is one in which the contrasting flavoring material is more or less uniformly and evenly distributed throughout the basic substance.

Although I have described in detail only one form which the invention may assume, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the same is not so limited, but that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit thereof.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus for making a variegated product comprising an upper chamber and a lower chamher in axial alignment, the upper chamber having an inlet through which a flavoring material may be received under pressure, the lower chamber having an inlet for receiving under pressure a basic substance and an outlet for discharging d the composite moving stream of material, an apertured bafile plate separating the two chambers having a delivery tube depending from each aperture thereof, a tubular extension mounted axially below the outlet of said lower chamber having a stationary pattern-making dispersing disk mounted within and provided with a reduced axial opening having a series of spaced arms extending thereacross adapted to create a turbulence in said moving stream, and an extension mounted below said dispersing disk having a diameter greater than the opening through said disk and of a length sufficient to permit said moving stream of composite material to reform.

2. Apparatus for making a variegated product comprising an upper chamber and a lower chamber in axial alignment, the upper chamber having an inlet through which a flavoring material may be received under pressure, a lower chamber having an inlet for receiving under pressure a basic substance and an outlet for dischargin the composite moving stream of material, a baflie plate separating said chambers having a series of spaced relatively small apertures therethrough, each aperture having a delivery tube depending therefrom and extending below the inlet to said lower chamber, and a tubular extension mounted in axial alignment with the outlet of said lower chamber having a plurality of spaced stationary pattern-making disks positioned therein, each of said disks having a restricted opening therethrough across which a series of spaced arms extend to break up the flow of material passing therethrough, the spacing between said disks being such that the moving stream of composite material will reform therebetween.

3. Apparatus for making a variegated product comprising an upper chamber and a lower chamber in axial alignment, the upper chamber having an inlet through which flavoring material may be received under pressure, the lower chamber having an inlet for receiving under pressure a basic substance and an outlet for discharging the composite moving stream of material, a baffle plate separating said chambers having a series of small spaced apertures therethrough, each aperture having a delivery tube depending therefrom and extending below the inlet of said lower chamber, and a tubular extension mounted removably below said outlet for said lower chamber having a plurality of spaced stationary pattern-making disks positioned therein, each of said disks having an annular downwardly and inwardly beveled flange providing a constricted opening therethrough, and each constricted opening having a plurality of arms extending thereacross to break up the flow of material, the spacing between said disks being of such length that the moving composite stream may overcome the turbulence caused by said arms and reform.

4. Apparatus for making a variegated product comprising an upper chamber and a lower chamber in axial alignment, said upper chamber having an inlet through which flavoring material may be received under pressure, said lower chamber having an inlet for receiving under pressure a basic substance and an outlet for discharging the composite moving stream of material, a baflle plate separating said chambers having a series of spaced apertures therethrough, each aperture having a delivery tube dependent therefrom into said lower chamber, and a tubular extension mounted below said outlet for said lower chamber having a plurality of spaced stationary pattern- 7 making disks positioned therein, said extension being separabl at each of said disks, each of said disks having a straight edge portion adapted to fit tightly against the inner walls of said extension and an inwardly extending flange forming a constricting opening for compacting said composite stream passing therethrough, and each of said disks having a plurality of arms extending radially of said opening to break up the flow of material passing therethrough, the spacing between said disks being of such length that the moving stream of composite material will reform therebetween.

NORMAN I. PEYTON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Uckotter Feb. 4, 1902 Eberhard Jan. 6, 1914 Herron June 2, 1936 Alexander Feb. 13, 1940 Balch June 24, 1941 Howser Apr. 13, 1943 Marks Oct. 24, 1950 

